Marker



Feb. 26, 1946. T. w. JOHNSON.

MARKER original Filed Nov. 6, 1940 m KS mm m0 VIU mW E R O E H Tl Patented Feb. 2.6, 1946 TED sfrArs MARKER Theodore vW.' Johnson, Moline, Ill., assigner to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of .Illinois Originalapplicaticn November 6, 1940, Serial No. 364,515. Divided and this application 'June 16, '1943, Serial.No.491,266

Claims.

This application is a division of myco-pending application, Serial 'No..364,5'15, :filed November 6,

.1940, lfor Agricultural implement,` now 'United States Patent No. .2,337,662,1issued December28, 1943.y

Thepresent invention're'lates generally to agricultural machines and more particularly to 'implementsnfor planting and cultivating row crops.

'The object .and general nature .of the present invention is lthezprovision of an .agricultural implement that is .particularly adapted for power farming 'and either planting or cultivating a pluralityof rows, lpreferably by :the vsimple expedient of attaching the proper tools according to whether it is desiredto plant or to cultivatausing the major portionof .the outfit common .for both operations. .More particularly, it is a feature .of the present invention, .particularly in connection with a planting implement in which the `planting tools are arranged in 'transverse :alignment but are connected forindependentnoating movement, Vimproved marker 'means which is especially constructed to accommodate 4a multi-row tractor propelled outfit, such .as a. four or verow machine. Itis desirable to have the'marker disposed well toward the rear wheels :of the tractor, at least far enough rearwardly so las to be substantially in transverse. alignment with-the planting units with which it is associated. In the present type of machine, whereineach unit is individually `and floatingly connected, itis not practical to `fix the'marker directly'to the outermost unit, andv especially is this itrue where multirow machine, such asa four or-ve-.row machine, is provided, since .a marker for such `a machine is required to extend laterally a considerable distance and iis therefore relatively heavy. Being relatively heavy, lthe marker cannot besupported adequately on `only the outer 'individual plantingeunit.

Therefore, according to .thepresent invention, in a machine ofthis kind Iprovidemeans supporting Athe markeren arigid part ofthe implement,fsuch as theldraft bar whichtsfforwardnf the tools and to I.which the latter are floatingly connected by rearwardly'extending links, and so arrange .the .connection between the'marker 'arm and the 'draft .bar that the marking element is disposed .asubstantial distance .rearwardly of v"the draft bar, at .least lfarenough to be in transverse alignment 'with the tools .and preferably rearwardly thereof. Specically, this is 4conveniently accomplished by providing anextension 'for the draft bar, whichextension is directed outwardly and rearwardly `at 'an angle :and :supports a rpivot yoke'thatzis lconstructed Aso'thatthe axis of hinging movementbetween the marker Iarm andthe hitchsupport is disposedatsuch an anglethat when in oper-.ating position the marker. "element is disposed well .towardtherear of tthe tractor.

These and other objects and ladvantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration ofthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction 4with 5 the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred construction.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan -viewof an'agricultural machinein which the-principles ofthe present vinvention have fbeen'incorporated, yutilizing planting units and arranged'to plant five rows;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective 4view taken `from one end of the marker construction employed in the machine shown in Figure "1; and

Figure 3 is a, sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of lFigure '1.

Referring now more particularly to Figurell,

the agricultural machine-.in which the present invention has been incorporatedcomprisesa farm tractor of the three-wheel or tricycle type,` indicated lgenerally by thereference numeral l. The tractor l includes a, generally longitudinally-disposed frame12, the-front end of which-is supported on front wheel means 3. The latter .may take the -form of a pairof closely arranged wheels!! or a-single wheel, or any other suitable supporting-means disposed in the-centervof the tracton S'ince the tractor l is of conventional construction, the same is illustrated-only fragmentarily in Figure 1. For a more complete showingof ythe tractor and'implement, reference may be had to my parent patent mentioned above. The tractor I has the usual tractor motor and is also :preferably equipped vwith a power lift Amechanism which is connected. to raise and lower theY tools,

as `will-be referred to below.

The tractor l adjacent its forwardend carries two laterally outwardly disposed draft bars 3l. These draft bars-or draft transmitting `members are substantially identical except that one yis ia right-hand part and the other a, left-hand part. Each preferably is in the form ofza pipe member, and secured, as by welding, to the inner end Vof each draft bar is an atttaching plate 34 apertured or otherwise formed. 'By this means the draft bars are bolted, respectively, to the two frame bars 35, which form a part of the tractor frame 2, and extend laterally .outwardly therefrom. The draft bars 3| thus :provide Vmeans by which tools may be .connected with the Atractor in draft transmitting relation.

The present invention has been illustrated as incorporated in an agricultural machine `which is equipped and arranged as a live-row Planter.

The particular details ofthe vplantingunits', .their arrangement and supportare shown in my parentv application, identified rabove, and. hence Vit will be necessary to describeA these :parts only briefly here. To provide a five-row machine lI prefer to mount the tools so that one yis always directly behind the front wheel means, with the others spaced laterally outwardly therefrom but in transverse alignment. This disposes all of the tools in a line across the machine and disposes them between the front and rear wheels where the operator has an excellent View of all operations from the operators station or seatV on the tractor.

Referring first to the planting units, three brackets 4| are carried by each draft bar, the right hand draft bar being indicated at 3|. Each bracket 4| has an upper section 43 with a bearing 45, and the rockshaft 46 is carried by the bearings 45. Links 48 and 49 are pivoted to each bracket 43 and at 5| and 54 to a pair of plates 53, the lower ends of which are formed, as at 56, to receive the associated tool bar or rig beam 51, as by bolts 58. Each beam 51 carries a socket casting 6| to which a shank 62 with a gauge wheel 63 is xed. Each beam 51 carries a tool-receiving fixture 64. Pairs of arms 66 are connected by chains 61 to the links 49. A lifting pipe 69 is pivoted to an arm 68 on the rockshaft 46. 'I'he centerrrig beam 51.is supported on a cross bar 91 carried by the innero most right and left hand rig links 43 and 49. Each planting unit includes a planter furrow opener I||, and outer and inner seed cans ||8 and |3| are mounted on a supporting framework H9. The latter includes a bar |52! fixed to a bracket |22 with braces |23 connected at |24 to the draft bar 3|.

Each seed can includes suitable seed selecting mechanism and is carried on a supporting base or bracket |25 which is bolted, as at |26, to the angle iron` |2l. The seed selecting mechanism of the two outer kcans ||8 at the right side of the tractor is driven by a seedingshaft |21 which is operated by a sprocket chain |28 extending over a driving sprocket fixed to the right axle shaft of the tractor. A seed tube leads downwardly from each seed can I|8 to the boot of the associated furrow opener. `The seeding shaft |21 drivesthe seeding mechanism through suitable gearing'. VThe seed drive mechanism and gearing, which are 'of conventional construction, are indicated in Figure 1 by the reference numeral |30. The left hand seed cans and other parts of the seeding mechanism and driving means therefor at the left side of the tractor are not shown but arey substantially the same as the parts just described.

The improved marker means, with which the present invention is more particularly concerned, will now be described. Referring for the moment to Figure 1, it will be noted `that each of the planting tools, including the center tool, is floatingly connected with the associated draft bar for movementv independent of the other tools and the tractor. Further, the machine vbeing a five-row outfit, the marker for such a machine must necessarily be fairly long and hence of considerable weight, the length ofthe marker being at least as long as'the distance of three row spacings. It is, therefore, not feasible to support the relatively long marker solely on the laterally outer unit, and according to the present invention I-provide a marker arm support that is adapted to be fixed to the laterallyouter end of each of the draft bars 3| when arranging the machine as a planter. Further, it is desirable to have the ground engaging marker element disposed as far as possible toward the rear of the tractor, and especially is this desirable when the machine comprises a multi-IOW implement. The farther forward that the marker elements engage the ground, the greater will be the variations in the mark due tothe lateral movement 'of the front end of the tractor which normally occurs when steering the same down the eld. These variations become increasingly amplified the greater the length of the marker arm and the number of tools in simultaneous action. Now in order to reduce as far as pcssible these variations, notwithstanding the attachment of the marker elements to the forwardly disposed draft bars, the present invention contemplates a marker arm construction which is angled laterally outwardly and rearwardly so that objectionable variations in the mark are not present.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, a yoke support 5| in the form of a bent pipe having a reduced inner end |52 and a laterally outwardly and rearwardly bent yoke receiving section |53, is disposed in the outer ends of each of the draft bars 3| and 32, the reduced end |5| being inserted in the end of the associated draft bar andvxed therein, as by a bolt |55. This bolt also fixes to the end of the associated draft bar a marker cable anchoring clip |56. A substantially inverted V-shaped yoke |6| is secured, as by welding, to the laterally outer end of the bent yoke support section |53. The yoke |6| terminates in downwardly extending apertured parts |62 and |63 between which the inner end of a marker arm |64 is received. The marker arm |64 comprises three telescopically associated sections |65, |66 and |61, the section |65 supporting a marker element |68, preferably in the form of a disk. The several sections are fixed in extensibly adjusted relation by set screw collar means |69. The innermost end of the inner marker arm section |61 has iixed thereto a U-shaped strap member |1|,'the ends of which are apertured to receive pivots |12 which support the inner end of the marker arm on the lower end of the yoke |6|. A bracket |14 is disposed about the inner end of the inner marker arm section |61 and has an eye portion to'which the lower end of a spring |15 is connected. The upper end of the spring |15 is anchored to a bolt |16 fixed to the yoke support pipe |5|. The function of the spring |15 is to balance the weight of the marker arm. Both marker arms are of substantially identical construction, and hence a description of one will suce.

Each marker arm is raised and lowered by a cable which is accessible to the operator on the tractor. The forward end of the' cable is anchored to the bracket |56. A' strut |8| is xed to the marker arm in any suitable manner and at its upper end carries a pulley |82 through which the cable |80 is trained. A standard |84 is fixed to the associated seed can supporting angle |2| and at its upper end carries a loop |85 through which the cable |80 extends and which is provided with a slot section into which they cable may be placed, the cable having a knot therein so that when the marker arm is raised the knot may be disposed behind the slotted section and hence hold the marker arm raised.

It will be noted, particularly from Figures 2 and 3, that the yoke support pipe |5| is bent at such an angle that the marker arm |64 extends generally outwardly and backwardly so as to dispose the marker element |68 well toward the rear of the tractor, yet by virtue of the upwardly extending strut IBI and the fact that the forward end of the cable |80 is anchored.

as at |56, to a point above and laterally inwardly of the marker arm pivot axis |72, a pull on the cable will raise the marker arm into its raised position. By virtue of pivoting the marker arm directly on the associated draft bar, a firm and rigid support for the marker arm is provided, notwithstanding that for a five-row machine the marker arm is of substantial length and weight, yet by virtue of the fact that the rear or outer end of the marker arm is displaced rearwardly relative to its pivotal support on the draft bar, the marker element is placed in such a position that it accurately marks the ground so that when the outfit is turned around and plants along the marked line, all the rows of seed will be of substantially the same spacing irrespective of slight turning movements of the tractor due to the steering of the same.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is' to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an agricultural implement comprising a transverse draft bar, a marker construction comprising a yoke support adapted to be fixed to said draft bar at the outer end thereof andincluding a section bent laterally outwardly and rearwardly, a depending marker arm yoke fixed to the outer end of said yoke support, a marker arm pivotally connected with the lower end of said yoke support and extending laterally outwardly and rearwardly when in operating position, a marker element fixed to the outer end of said marker arm, and means reacting against said draft bar for raising said marker arm.

2. In an agricultural implement comprising a transverse draft bar, a marker construction comprising a yoke support fixed to said transverse draft bar, said yoke support including a section bent laterally outwardly and rearwardly, a depending marker arm yoke xed to the outer end of said yoke support and extending downwardly therefrom, and spaced apart means at the lower end establishing a marker arm pivot axis that extends rearwardly and inwardly relative to the draft bar.

3. The combination with a tractor having a pair of fore and aft spaced apart transverse draft bars xed thereto, of a marker arm support including a part fixed to the forward draft bar and extending laterally outwardly and rearwardly, a marker arm pivotally connected with the outer end of said part and also extending laterally outwardly and rearwardly, a pulley support carried by said marker arm, a standard fixed to the outer end of the rear bar, and a lifting cable anchored at its forward end to the outer end of said forward draft bar and trained through said pulley and extending inwardly to said standard and thence to a point adjacent the operators station on the tractor.

4. A marker arm support comprising a bar including angularly related sections, one of said sections being adapted to be attached to a support, and a marker arm pivot yoke comprising a generally V-shaped member having its apex secured to the end of the other of said angularly related sections, the ends of said V-shaped pivot yoke being apertured.

5. A marker arm support as dened in claim a, further characterized by said bar comprising a member bent intermediate its ends, one section of said member being reduced in diameter to form an attaching section for the marker arm support.

6. The combination of a tool support comprising a pipe member, a marker arm support membei` comprising a second member insertable into said pipe member, means for securing said members rigidly together, and a marker arm4 pivot yoke comprising a generally V-shaped member having its apex embracing and secured to the outer end of said second member and depending therefrom, and amarker arm pivotally connected with the lower end of said depending pivot yoke.

'7. In an agricultural implement comprising a transverse draft bar, a marker construction comprising a yoke support adapted to be fixed t-o said draft bar at the outer end thereof and including a section bent laterally outwardly and rearwardly, a depending marker arm yoke fixed to the outer end of said yoke support, a marker arm pivotally connected with the lower end of said yoke support and extending laterally outwardly and rearwardly when in operating position, a marker element fixed to the outer end of said marker arm, and a counterbalancing spring connected at pne end with said draft bar and at the other end with said marker arm. Y

8. In an agricultural implement comprising a transverse draft bar, a marker construction comprising a yoke support fixed to said transverse draft bar and extending generally laterally outwardly therefrom, a depending marker arm yoke iixed to the outer end of said yoke support and extending downwardly therefrom, and spaced apart means at the lower end establishing a marker arm pivot axis that extends rearwardly and inwardly relative to the draft bar. n

9. In an agricultural implement comprising a transverse draft bar, a marker construction comprising a yoke support fixed to said transverse draft bar and extending generally laterally outwardly therefrom, a depending marker arm y-oke fixed to the outer end of said yoke support and extending downwardly therefrom, spaced apart means at the lower end establishing a marker arm pivot axis that extends rearwardly and inwardly relative to the draft bar, and a counterbalancing means connected between said yoke support and said marker arm and extending between said spaced apart means.

10. In a tractor mounted planter including a transverse draft bar extending laterally outwardly from and carried by said tractor, and a plurality of transversely aligned planting units connected with and extending generally rearwardly from said draft bar, a marker construction comprising a support member including a first section adapted to be rigidly attached to the outer end of said draft bar and a second section extending generally outwardly and rearwardly therefrom, means associated with the outer end of said second section establishing a marker arm hinge axis that extends rearwardly and inwardly with respect to the tractor, a marker arm extending laterally outwardly and rearwardly and including a marking element arranged substantially in transverse alignment with said planting units and hingedly connected with said hinge means for movement about said axis into and out of working position.

THEODORE W. JOHNSON. 

